Although the latest Matrix film seemed like a warning about the risks of overexploiting an iconic subversive intellectual property, Warner Bros has decided to tap into this source again. Get ready to choose once again between the red pill and the blue pill, because a fifth chapter of the saga is coming, and I still haven't made it out of the fourth alive.
A new architect for the Matrix
According to from the Deadline website, is Drew Goddard, known for writing “The Martian,” the person chosen to write and direct another Matrix film. You read that right: there won't be the Wachowski sisters (even if the film is produced by one of them, Lana). At the moment, the new film does not yet have a title or a scheduled release date, and it has not been announced who among the stars of the franchise as Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II o Jessica henwick will resume their roles. It could be all of them, it is unlikely that it will be any of them: from this point of view the producer is a guarantee.
In a statement Jesse Ehrman, head of production at Warner Bros. Motion Pictures, said that Goddard came to the studios with a fresh idea for the franchise's future, one that would honor "what Lana and Lilly [Wachowski] started over 25 years ago" and would offer “a unique perspective based on his love for the series and its characters.”
A director-superfan of The Matrix
Goddard himself expressed his enthusiasm for the project, with a statement that is all a program:
It's not hyperbole to say that the Matrix films changed both cinema and my life. Lana and Lilly's exquisite art inspires me daily, and I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to tell stories in their world.
Yes, ok, I'm happy, but what will the plot be? Will it still revolve around Neo and Trinity, or will the film focus on new characters? And above all, will this fifth installment capture the magic and innovation that made the first film an instant classic?
Only time will tell. As long as I still have something to say: and here I come to the crux of the matter.
The legacy of the Matrix
It is undeniable that the Matrix films have left an indelible mark on pop culture. The first, released in 1999, redefined science fiction cinema with its groundbreaking visual effects, breathtaking action sequences and provocative philosophical themes. I was in the room, and I came out transformed: I can say that there really is a Gianluca "before the Matrix" and one "after".
And then? For me (and not only) the sequels did not reach the heights of the first film, despite expanding the narrative universe with fascinating new concepts. And 2021's “The Matrix Resurrections” divided audiences and critics, leaving me personally perplexed.
Sure, the latest in the series proved that there's still interest in this world and these characters, but Warner Bros. seems determined to keep the Matrix franchise alive even at the risk of diluting its cultural impact. And I don't like that one bit.
The risk of therapeutic obstinacy
I think there is a serious risk that The Matrix will exhaust itself with sequels and spin-offs. I saw it with “Pirates of the Caribbean” or “Terminator”: each new film seems to move further and further away from the original spirit of the series. To the point of boredom and beyond.
The Matrix, in particular, is a franchise that is all about subverting expectations and challenging the status quo. Ironically, continuing to churn out sequels could turn The Matrix into what it initially criticized: a soulless commercial product. A fucking reactionary pimp. I am exaggerating?
Let's look at the glass half full, go
If I have to find any reason for cautious optimism about The Matrix 5, I'm holding on to the presence of Lana Wachowski as an executive producer. You should ensure at least some consistency with the original vision. At least I hope.
The truth? Only time will tell whether The Matrix 5 will be a worthy chapter in the franchise or a simple attempt to exploit public nostalgia. The journey down the rabbit hole isn't over yet.
